Bangladesh envoy urges faster rollout of Greece labour deal

Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece Nahida Rahman Shumona has called for procedural bottlenecks to be removed so that a bilateral labour mobility agreement can work as intended.
Speaking as keynote speaker at the Olympia Forum VII, held from 29 September to 1 October at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, she said the agreement allows up to 4,000 Bangladeshi workers to enter Greece each year. Fewer than 500 have arrived over the past two years.
She identified visa issuance as a key obstacle. Bangladeshi applicants must currently travel to India to obtain their Greek entry visas. Streamlining administrative procedures, she said, was essential for the agreement to function and to meet Greece’s labour-market needs.
The session, titled “The Diplomatic Perspective: The Future of Agricultural Production – Labour Mobility, Skills and International Partnerships”, was moderated by Olympia Forum President Lefteris Varouxis. It brought together experts, policymakers and representatives of international institutions.
Ambassador Shumona said demographic change was reshaping labour markets worldwide, not only in Greece, and increasing the need for efficient, structured mobility schemes.
Participants agreed that cooperation should go beyond mobility to include education, vocational preparation and skills development, helping workers progress professionally and adapt to the changing demands of agricultural production.
The ambassador reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to working closely with Greek authorities on labour mobility and skills development, describing education as a cornerstone of a lasting partnership.
The session concluded that tackling demographic and labour-market pressures requires inter-state coordination, better mobility mechanisms and investment in human capital. It suggested Greece and Bangladesh could develop joint labour and education initiatives to boost agricultural productivity.
The forum was co-organised by the Region of Western Greece, the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, the Green Fund, the Municipality of Pyrgos, KEDE, ENPE, the Chamber of Ilia and the University of the Peloponnese.